Lexington, Ky. – Aug. 15, 2019 – The finale of the 2019 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship took place at the Kentucky Horse Park on Thursday afternoon, with champions crowned in both the 3’/3’3″ and 3’6″/3’9″ sections. After leading the first two days of riding, Scott Stewart held onto his top placings to capture the win in the 3’/3″ section with Dr. Betsee Parker’s Sandstone, while Sara Taylor and Ingrid Avera’s Noah emerged victorious over the larger fences to clinch the 2019 title for the 3’6″/3’9″ group.

Young, developing horses were the focal point of the Rolex Stadium on Thursday during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show as pairs gained valuable show experience as well as chased qualifying points towards the Classic Champions, Inc. Developing Jumper Tour weekend championships. Many horse-and-rider partnerships were also using Thursday’s classes as one of their final opportunities in the show ring to prepare for the year-end championships in September. Proving to be the best of the day in the Classic Champions, Inc. Developing Jumper Tour 7-Year-Old Jumpers, Hardin Towell and Taboo Holding’s Angel Twist sped to victory to add a win to the horse’s growing record. In the 6-year-old section, Mattias Ekeroth and Haydee M led the pack, while David O’Brien and Octavius SCF topped the leaderboard for the 5-year-old class.

Scott Stewart with top three finishers Mayflower, Sandstone, and Charlemagne.

Lexington, Ky. – Aug. 14, 2019 – The second phase of the 2019 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships at the 3′ and 3’3″ heights brought more than 140 exhibitors back to the Walnut Ring on Wednesday, with each horse-and-rider pair aiming at qualifying for Thursday’s championship round by earning a place in the top 30 finishers. Maintaining momentum, Scott Stewart retained his status as the frontrunner aboard Mayflower, laying down another high-scoring performance to earn Wednesday’s victory over fences and the overall top spot on the leaderboard. Adding to his success, Stewart claimed the second-place and third-place spots ahead of the pack with Sandstone and Charlemagne, respectively.

Jumper competition in the Rolex Stadium kicked off Wednesday at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show with the $5,000 1.40m Open Jumpers serving as the highlight event. Competing over a course of 13 obstacles, athletes vied for both clear and quick rounds. At the end of the two-phase competition it was Jill Gaffney and Freestyling Farm LLC’s Dayla 6 who stole the show to walk away with the blue ribbon as the only double-clear combination of the class.

Lexington, Ky. – Aug. 13, 2019 – Day one of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show kicked off with the first round of the 2019 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships. After 141 horse-and-rider combinations tried their hand at the 3′ and 3’3″ heights during Tuesday’s competition, it was Scott Stewart and Dr. Betsee Parker’s Mayflower who stole the show with a score of 267 points to take the lead and the blue ribbon. Heading into Wednesday’s second phase of competition, the pair looks to earn a slot in the top 30 that will qualify to compete in Thursday’s championship round.

Devon, Pa. – May 28, 2019 – The Dixon Oval welcomed its first international show jumping competition at the 2019 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair on Tuesday evening with the $50,000 Jet Run Devon Welcome Stake CSI4*, sponsored 5R Farms LLC – Helen Rich. After making their Devon debut in 2018 with multiple top placings, the United States’ Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and Silver Raven Farms’ Akuna Mattata returned to Devon, Pennsylvania all the way from California to take home their first win together and the Sylvester L. Quigley Memorial Challenge Trophy at the iconic venue, besting 25 other horses and athletes.

Scott Stewart Scores Back-to-Back Green Hunter Championships

Tuesday at Devon welcomed back top professional hunter athletes in the Dixon Oval as they vied for championship honors in their respective divisions. In the Green 3’6″ Hunters, it was Scott Stewart and Bikoff Equestrian LLC’s Cabrio who walked away with the first tricolor of the day, sponsored by Dr. Betsee Parker and Huntland Farm. The pair accumulated high placings in four over fences classes and in the undersaddle class, spanning two days of competition, to earn a total of 34 points for the James J. Piehler Memorial Challenge Trophy. Immediately following in the Green Conformation Hunters, Stewart dominated once again to win the championship, sponsored by Courtyard Marriott. This time aboard Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Scandal, Stewart finished the division with a total of 39 points to claim the Just for Fun – Two for One Challenge Trophy.

P. J. Crowley Defends Single Horse Driving Championship Title

The Single Horse Driving championship finished out Tuesday evening with P. J. Crowley claiming the tricolor and taking home the championship apron, sponsored by Misdee Wrigley Miller, and Single Horse Driving Championship Challenge Trophy. Crowley’s Brewster Phaeton, owned by James and Kathleen Leo, earned first place in Tuesday’s Single Horse Pleasure Driving Turnout for the Witteveen Friesan Perpetual Trophy and second place in the Single Horse Scurry Driving competition to secure top honors for the second year in a row.

Lexington, Ky. – May 8 – The first day of competition at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show kicked off on Wednesday, with competition in the Rolex Stadium highlighted by the $35,000 Welcome Speed 1.45m CSI3*. At the end of a class filled with top FEI competitors from around the world, it was Andrew Ramsay and California 62, owned by the California Group, who would walk away with the win.

Scott Stewart and Castellan Capture Green Hunter Incentive Stake

Wednesday morning opened the first day of hunter/jumper competition for two weeks of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show CSI3* series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Hunter competition was highlighted in the Stonelea Ring with the Green Hunter Incentive Stake with the option to compete at the 3’6″ or 3’9″ height as riders look to gain points towards the year-end championships in August. Scott Stewart rode to the top of the leaderboard with a score of 89 aboard Stephanie Danhakl’s Castellan to capture the win.

Wellington, Fla. – April 3, 2019 – Ken Berkley & Scott Stewart of River’s Edge Farm are executive producers of a new documentary with HARRY & SNOWMAN and LIFE IN THE DOGHOUSE filmmaker, Ron Davis. The film, TO SERVE & PROTECT, will chronicle a paradigm shift in efforts by law enforcement through the Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative (PAARI) to combat the national opioid epidemic in their local communities.

“We were inspired by what PAARI is doing so we decided that this program needed national attention,” said Berkley. Filmmaker Ron Davis had just completed LIFE IN THE DOGHOUSE, about equestrians Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta. “I was eager to sign on to this project,” said Davis. “This film will be about a solution to the growing opioid epidemic.”

Berkley, Stewart, and Davis intend to raise $1 million through tax-deductible donations to produce the film. “This is a crisis that has touched everyone in some way and incarceration is not working. Treatment is the only answer,” said Stewart.

The producing team is hopeful that people will not only donate, but can interest friends, family, and organizations to contribute.

Wellington, FL – February 14, 2019 – The sixth week of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) features international jumpers at Equestrian Village and the hunters on center stage in the International Arena at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. On Thursday, February 14, Ibrahim Barazi (JOR) took the top spot in the $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6.

In the $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6, 61 entries went to post for a chance at prize money and the opportunity to compete in Friday night’s $134,000 CabanaCoast Grand Prix CSI 3*. There were 13 clear in the first round, and 10 of those chose to return for the jump-off.

Professionals Dominate Green and Young Horse Divisions on the Second Day of WCHR Hunter Week

Scott Stewart swept both High Performance divisions during the start of WCHR Hunter Week at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival. The Antares High Performance Working Hunters kicked off competition Thursday morning in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Field where Stewart and Dr. Betsee Parker’s 11-year-old Warmblood gelding (Coriano), Cameo, won three out of four classes for the championship. Stewart then returned to the ring with Parker’s Private Life, an eight-year-old KWPN gelding by Verdi x Pinot Rosso). The pair wrapped up the High Performance Conformation Hunters with two firsts, a second, a third, and a fourth for the champion ribbon. Stewart continued his day by taking Champion in the Green Conformation Hunter with Scandal, a five-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Scandix x Ramira Gracia) owned by Gochman Sport Horses LLC. Reserve Champion went to Kelley Farmer and Me Too, a six-year-old mare owned by Larry Glefke.

Brazil’s Celso Ariani won the first round of the Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL on Thursday, January 10.

With their share of $35,000 on the line, Ariani‘s mount Ukulman de la Nutria was fast across the ground and careful over the fences to top a six-horse jump-off over courses designed by Eric Hasbrouck of the United States. The pair will now focus on the $75,000 Rosenbaum PLLC Grand Prix, which takes center stage on Sunday, January 13.

“He is from Mexico and it’s the system there to break them at five or six, but for some reason he was in pasture for a little longer,” said Ariani. “I was very happy with his results over the last year and I have a lot of expectations for him. I believe he can become a very important horse.

“He has a huge stride and I was confident in the jump-off because it was a long track,” continued Ariani. “The last line was seven or eight [strides], but I believed he could do it in six and he did!”

Scott Stewart returned to the Winter Equestrian Festival in winning form as he secured the championship in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Green Hunter 3’6” division during Week 1. Stewart piloted new mount, Bright Side, to an easy victory as the pair was awarded two firsts, a third, and a fourth over their courses.

“We weren’t sure we were going to show him this week, but he was so good in the warm-ups on Tuesday that we decided to jump right in,” commented Stewart. “Since I don’t know him very well, I just had to trust him. He went right out there and handled it exceptionally well.”

Stewart, of Flemington, NJ, is new to the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ultimo x Tiara), who was purchased as an Adult Amateur 3’6” horse for his client, Stephanie Danhakl, only several weeks ago. Previously owned by Mountain View West Farm, LLC, the gelding has extensive Adult Amateur and Performance Hunter placings on the west coast.

Lexington, Ky. – Nov. 2, 2018 – The National Horse Show debuted a brand new competition on Friday evening in the Alltech Arena: the $50,000 National Horse Show Hunter Classic. Similar to the world famous horse show, now in its 135th year, the sport of hunters is deeply rooted in tradition and history, and the National Horse Show was pleased to showcase the grace and beauty of the nation’s top hunter horses and riders in its 2018 event at the Kentucky Horse Park, where the inaugural prize went to Scott Stewart and Lucador. His top score also earned him a one-year lease of an Audi from Audi of Lexington, presented by Samuel A. B. Boone, as well as the lion’s share of the Leading Professional Hunter Rider Bonus.

The pair stayed true to their winning ways as Stewart, of River’s Edge Farm in Flemington, New Jersey and Wellington, Florida, secured the coveted Leading Hunter Rider Award for the 12th time in his career on Wednesday at the National Horse Show, while Lucador, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, earned his fourth career and second consecutive Grand Champion Professional Hunter title.

Horse-and-rider combinations awarded championships or reserve championships in their respective hunter divisions earlier in the week were eligible to compete in Friday’s $50,000 National Horse Show Hunter Classic, with participants competing at the respective height (3’6”, 3’9”, or 4’) of the section from which they qualified.

The class, which counted towards Horse of the Year points, consisted of two rounds, with the top 12 returning for a second round from low to high score within their respective heights of 3’6” and 3’9”, with no 4’ entries earning a spot in the second phase. The final average score from round one was added to the final average score from round two to determine the overall total final score and winner.

Under the watchful eyes of two panels of judges consisting of James Clapperton, Daniel Robertshaw, Walter T. Kees, and Chance Arakelian, Friday’s first round course, designed by Bobby Murphy, welcomed 32 horses and riders to demonstrate their style and athleticism over obstacles composed of a variety of natural elements.

Tracy Fenney and MTM Farm’s MTM Outbid led the way after the first round with a score of 89, but Stewart followed close behind with the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding and a score of 87.25.

Returning for the second round, the top 12 combinations were tested once more in the handy phase of competition. An unfortunate bobble in round two caused Fenney to slip down into 10th place in the final standings, which left the top spot open for Stewart as the final entry in the class. Stewart stayed consistent and impressed the judges with another solid performance to finish round two with a score of 87.5 for a total combined score of 174.75.

Finishing behind Stewart and taking home reserve honors was Kentucky native Havens Schatt, from Georgetown, Kentucky, and Diatendro, owned by Kelley Corrigan. The pair finished the first round in fourth place with a score of 85 and received a score of 86.5 in round two for a total score of 171.50.

Rounding out the top three was Amanda Steege of Ocala, Florida and Zara, owned by Frances Moppett, who were awarded scores of 86 and 84.5 for a cumulative tally of 170.5. Steege and Stewart were the only two entries to qualify two mounts in the handy round. Stewart also rode Dr. Parker’s Private Life to an 11th place finish, while Steege piloted Cheryl Olsten’s Lafitte De Muze to seventh place.

Earlier in the day in the junior ranks, Jordan Allen and Ramble On Farm’s Rockette had reason to celebrate as the best-performing junior pair out of nearly 60 exhibitors. Thanks to consistently high-scoring rounds, the duo accumulated more points than any other competitors across the four junior divisions comprised of small and large hunters split by age groups, and they were rewarded with the title of Grand Junior 3’6” Champions and the Huntland Perpetual Cup. Even more impressive was the fact that Allen only first sat on the horse Thursday, the same day they took to the show ring and earned top ribbons.

Over the course of the two days of competition, Rockette garnered first place in the under saddle and stake class and third place in the over fences and handy classes to secure championship honors in the Gochman Family Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division, in addition to the Cantitoe Farm Challenge Trophy. Adding another accolade to their growing collection, Allen and Rockette also earned the “Inclusive” Perpetual Cup, chosen by the judges as the best performers of the group from both the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter and Large Junior 16-17 Hunter stake classes.

Devon, Pa. – May 30, 2018 – Few people have had as much success in the hunter ring as Scott Stewart, but being able to come to the prestigious Devon Horse Show and secure this year’s Devon Grand Hunter Championship and Devon Leading Hunter Rider award with Dr. Betsee Parker’s Private Life was as rewarding as ever for the renowned hunter rider and trainer.

International show jumpers returned to the Dixon Oval on Wednesday to compete in the $35,000 Devon International Speed Stake CSI4*, sponsored by Herr’s. Pennsylvania native Andrew Kocher (USA) outpaced 28 horses and athletes with MKO Equestrian LLC’s Zantos II to ride away with the win and the George T. Pew Jr. Memorial Perpetual Trophy in the one-round speed competition.

Ladies’ Day at the Devon Horse Show featured the long standing tradition of the Ladies’ Side Saddle championship. Horse-and-rider combinations competed in an undersaddle class, a hunter hack and an over fences class. At the end of an impressive show of skills from all competitors, it was Debra Taylor and Hypnotic (with trainer Susan Sisco riding over fences) who accumulated the most points to take home the championship ribbon.